Greensboro City Council Restricts Parking In Front/Side Yards

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- The city council approved an amendment Tuesday night that restricts parking in front/side yards for single family and duplex residential areas.

In addition, the amendment, "bans large vehicles and trailers, those in excess of 26 feet or 14,000 pounds from front or street side yards, unless the vehicle is a recreational vehicle."

Greensboro city officials say this will be a "complaint-driven" policy. In other words, the city will respond to neighborhood complaints about this issue, but will not necessarily actively patrol looking for this problem.

People park on their lawn for all kinds of reasons. Some say it's their right. Others say it's safer than the street.

However, another resident, Lila Lloyd said, "It's an ugly appearance...The neighborhood always looks better if the cars are not parked right in front of your house."

George Bishop has parked an old city bus on his property for about three years.

"One man's trash is another man's treasure. They can say what they will. Everybody has a mouth and this is a free country," Bishop said. "They should leave me alone. I'm not bothering anyone. It's not in anybody's way. It does not block line of sight to the street or the corner."

He says it still runs. However, some of his neighbors are still upset that it's parked in his yard.

Councilman Jim Kee lives up the street from Bishop. "I've gotten numerous calls since I've been on council. We finally had to take some appropriate action," Kee said.

Bishop added, "I don't think anybody has been out here longer than me. I've been out here since 1973. Everybody out here doesn't own their house. We do."

The council's revised ordinance will now force Bishop to move that bus.

The city had an existing ordinance banning people from parking on their front lawn. Over the past three months, the city has cited 89 people for front yard parking violations. This revision clarifies the existing law. Plus, it adds in more rules about larger vehicles, like Bishop's bus.

Have you seen cars or vehicles parked in ways that would violate this ordinance? Please email your pictures to myphotos@wfmy.com or post them to our Facebook page.